Started way on the outside. Like, I was literally the farthest girl to the right. I didn't want to mess with the mey-ley today. The start was great, just got the heck away from everyone else. My goggles fogged and I literally couldn't see a thing, so I stopped and wiped them out.

Breathing got more rapid on the first stretch, couldn't get in a good rhythm. Rounding the turn bouey I thought I'd get into a groove but wasn't sure where to go as the green - half way point - bouey was in no way in a straight line with the orange turn bouey farther out. EVERYONE was swimming to the green one. In my mind I thought maybe that was now a turn bouey? Something we had to clear? Why was everyone going out of their way to get to that one when it would clearly add yardage??

Already feeling slow and sluggish I decided to just stop and ask a kayaker which one we were supposed to go to. He said the orange one. When I actually got there, I realized what was going on. It had become un-anchored and was drifting. Who knows when it happened, but it was a little frustrating seeing it float almost the same pace I was swimming, in the wrong direction.

Anywho... last stretch now. I was prepared for the fast dudes to come up on me, it was only a matter of time. When they did it was slightly alarming, but only a few clawer/puncher/swingers.

I dunno, I was just REALLY ready to be out of the water for the whole 2nd half. Just wasn't my day for swimming, which is totally rare, it's usually my best and favorite part by far.

Well I'm no dummy, I can put 2 and 2 together. I've been, at best, swimming once a week since... February? And I took off September through January? And haven't been in open water since August. Pretty easy to draw the conclusion that I simply wasn't trained up for the swim like I could have been.

So while I was a little disappointed to see my time coming out of the water, I can't blame anyone or anything. Maybe that drifting bouey but I doubt that added *that* much yardage.

Oh good gravy my stupid wetsuit. I could not for the life of my get it off. Whilst run/walking up to transition I struggled so badly just trying to get my arms out. Took me the entire time while I made my way to my bike. Then the legs. Everything that could get stuck, did. UGh. 10 lbs, 10 lbs, 10 lbs!

I wasn't mad, just laughing at how hard I was trying with very little results. Rest of T1 was very smooth.

Anything that resembled a normal wetsuit removal.

WOOHOO! Things took a complete turn for the better once I got on the bike. I absolutely loved every second of this - what a great course! I pushed a little, but knew the run was coming so didn't go crazy. Just had an amazing time out there and was actually a little sad when it ended.

REALLY proud of my pace here. I typically ride 15-16mph, so this felt wonderful. The first hour I averaged 17.2 so I slowed down a little after that, but wow. So much fun.

Nothing!

Oh what a flawless T2 for me. Bam.

Nothing.

This sounds really silly, but my only goal for the run was to not have to stop to walk. I've been running a lot this winter/spring, but usually as a run/walk or with many stops. But running out of transition I knew I'd be golden. I felt so great!

Kept telling myself it was only 6 miles, and having run a 50K in Feb and a marathon in April it really just seemed like a jaunt in the park, even after swimming and biking.

Never overheated, never red-lined... just kept it super steady. The aid stations were kind of bunched up in the middle of the loop but I was sure to take both water and Gatorade each time.

I really, really enjoyed the run. I felt good, and tired in the last few miles, and like I was really trained and prepared for it. Fun, fun, fun!



I'm always negatively surprised at my run rank within my age group; I shouldn't be. I know I'm slow. But I made my goal and I felt FANTASTIC doing it. That's enough for me :)

Found MY HEIDI and some Wichita friends, chatted while I waited for Amber (who had a severe goggle malfunction and was a few minutes later than I expected her, dang!).

Never found any athlete food and they didn't have the finishers shirts they so desperately begged everyone to vote on in the months before the race. No idea what happened to those! And really, for a $50 race, I'm not complaining :)


The usual suspects... training, speed work, wanting to have fun rather than kill myself.